Diaphragm-horn.



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DIAPHR'AGM HORN. Y AfPLlcATloN FILED MAYH. 191|.

. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

/zsains-SHEET 2.

variety of ways,

MILLER REESE HUTCHISON,

MGCONNELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F WES'I. ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO IOVEL'L- OF DELAWARE.

DIAPHRAGM-HORN.

Applcationled May 11, 1911.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, MILLER REESE IIUTGH- rsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of West Orange, in the county "of Essex and State of New Jersey, have nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Diaphragm-Horns, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to mechanically, actuated diaphragm horns particularly to those of the class in which the diaphragm is vibrated bodily by high speed' mechanism, such as a shaft or other rotary member driven by an electric motor and provided with van eccentric portion or projections adapted Ato transform rotary motion into vibratory movement. In my co-pendingapplication,

Serial No. 626,487, filed May 11, 1911, I have described various useful features of design and operation for more or less tempering or cushioning the application of power to the' diaphragm, particularly by means of various forms and arrangements ofl cushioning members for partially absorbing and partially transmitting the efforts exerted by thev r0- tary driver.

My present invention relates to certain forms of signal wherein the cushioning or yielding actuating member is carried by the rotary driving 'membeix Preferably such cushioning or yielding member' is arranged so that it is caused to yield under the normal effort exerted by the driver in actuating the diaphragm, so that it yields at `each driving contact.

' A simple embodiment of my invention is one in which a rigidly mounted rotary driver is provided withv a projection of spring Inaterial, which may be secured rigidly to the rotary part and preferably contacts with the diaphragm or a wear piece thereon, the projection being of such flexibility relative to the diaphragi'n as to yield to a suitable degree at each driving contact'. While the spring projections may beconstructed in a it is preferable to make them in lthe nature of thin spring teeth pron j ecting freely from the rotary member, preferably from the periphery thereof, their inner ends being secured rigidly to the body of the driver and theirl outer ends being free. In the most desirable construction the teeth or projections are directed reversely to the direction `'of rotation, so that they in edect vSpeciiication of Letters Patent.

arms may Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Serial No. 626,488.

constitute yielding cam projections adapted to ride over the diaphragm projection, to force the 'latter outward while 'themselves yielding toward the rotary body. In another embodiment the rotary part is provided with arms or projections, preferably -of rigid or "unyielding material, pivoted or otherwise loosely mounted on the driver and preferably held outward by means of springs in positions where their rotary path intersects.

the diaphragm or a` projection thereon, these springs being preferably'f ,such relative flexibility as to yield to greater or less eX- tent at each driving Contact of an arm with the diaphragm or with a wear piece thereon. Each of these rigid, loosely-mounted arms or projections are preferably constructed and arranged so that they assume a definite, supported position after each yielding driving contact. The provision of means for this purpose is of material advantage for several reasons, among others because, thereby the be held in positions where will act upon thediaphragmto the greatest advantage, and will be prevented .from swingins.r to a forward position where it they y might engage the diaphragm end on thereby avoiding danger of undue strain or rupture vwhich may result where the forward swing of the pivoted member is not controlled or limited. In the form shown in the drawings, tliese arms will be acted on in greater or less degree by centrifugal force, which in this case will act\ in the same direction as the springs and willtend to hold them outwardly against thrust of the diaphragm. It will be obvious that with arms of sufficient mass the springs might be dispensed with, centrifugal force alone being relied upon to hold the arms in the extended operative position. In such a case, and wherever centrifugal'force plays an important part in holding the projection in or throwing it'out to operative position, the provision of stop means for limiting its movement is especially desirable, because it is thereby possible to fix the normal position of the arm so that its center of mass lies rearwardly of its pivot and in such case it is acted upon by centrifugal force with greater effect according as the center of mass is nearer the line of a tangent from the pivot and remote from way, the arm will be held in posi-tion with sufficient force to deliver effective blows or' forcing efforts to the diaphragm, though yielding and thereby cushioning the blows. A- further development of the invention includes means for first retracting or set- [ting the arms on the rotary part by forcing them in against the action of the resilient l cushioning member or material or against the action of centrifugal force, and then re-- leasing them so as to permit them to fly outward and forwardv against the diaphragm v or diaphragm projection, to deliver a blow at a/speed which is a-'resultant-of the'velocity due 'to' the angularmovement of the carrierv and the l velocity due to centrifugal or spring movement of thel released armV relative to its pivot. Such setting means may beemployed in connection either with the projections of spring material or the rigid, spring-pressed arms. A simple construction utiii'zes a stationary setter having a cam surface' which 41s eccentric to the rotary member,v and so constructed as to gradually foldyor'force the arms backward, the end of this surface being properly' related tojthediaphragm'or wear-piece so that the blow'jis' delivered with the greatest force or "from ,the most eiicient direction; eBy adjusting the setter so as to intercept the path ofrthe arms to a greater or less extent, the amount and direction of the'snap action may be correspondingly varied. I

In the accompanying drawings illustrat ing certainof the possible Vembodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a view of a complete signal, partly in side elevation and partly in section; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the rear part of the signal;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing adjustable means for setting the spring projections; and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a rotary driver provided with pivoted spring-sustained arms or projections.

The horn or resonator, '1, is carried bythe front section 2 of the diaphragm case and the diaphragm 3 is held between cork wash-y ers .or the like 4, 5 by the marginal clamping portions, 7 of the' front section 2 and the rear section 8 of the diaphragm-case.' The clamping is effected by screws. 9, which pass through openings in the clamping portions diaphragm case, andthe shaft .is eccentric l to these bearings, nso thatthe actuator 10 may be adjusted to orfromthe diaphragm by rotary adjustment of the sleeve. If desired., other high speed means for rotating the driver may be employed. A

The driver` or rotary carrier 10 carries one o r more actuating membersl, which areyieldingly sustained andcope'rate with. i

the diaphragm to effect-bodily displacement thereof. In the simplest construction the said members l5 contact directly ,with the diaphragm or with a-wear-piece 16 or other Preferably, the spring-sustaining means is such that the contact members 15 yield at each thrust on the diaphragm. The members 15 may be lthemselves o f elastic material so as to yield underv the successive displacing eEorts, or ,separate cushioning -means may be provided, as -illustratively shown-in Fig. 4where the members 15 are preferably arms of unyielding material movably mounted on the driver, as by means' oithepivots 16, and sustained by the springs 17. In the remaining views the spring-sus.

vsuitable thrust-receiving portion thereon.

tained projections are of resilient material,

preferably of spring. steel, though other .ma-

terial may be used. Preferably these pro-j 4.jections of spring material are in the form` lof freely-projecting teeth, rigidly secured at their inner ends to the rotary carrier and freeat their outer ends, so as to` be capable of flexing throughout their length. 'e l While it will be obvious that the members 15 er 15a may be arranged in a variety of ways, it is considered preferable to mount them peripherally on the rotary actuating member. When they are formed as' freely projecting arms or teeth as shown, they'are preferably. directed contrary to the direction of rotation, but the distance to which they eXtend periphera'lly-may be varied and 4 in some constructions maybe 4so shortened as to be negligible. As shown, the members 15 or 15*L in 'effect constitute yielding cams.

'In the form o'f the invention shown Fig. 4, where the 'projections' are in the nature of rigid, or substantially rigid, pivoted arms, means are preferably provided for causing each of them to assume a definite position after yielding and, delivering the.

driving Vimpulse to the diaphragm. Stop means for the purpose may be of widely varying descriptions. I have shown -the arms as pivoted in peripheral recesses in the rotary carrier, the forward walls 30 of these recesses constituting stops forl limiting the movement of the arms in the outward direction. The arms are held against these stops bythe action ofthe springs-17 or centrifugal force, or both. yThe stops are so arranged relatively to the arms that the latter are held with their centers of gravity materially in rear of the radius drawn through l55 where it escapes from this forward end of the arms. -Moreover,

the center of the rotary carrier andthe pivot 16.. It results, therefore, that centrifugal force may act with considerable effect on whether the arms are held mainly by spring pressure or mainly by centrifugal force, these stops serve to prevent them from swinging too far forward thus preventing the possibility of endwise or too high angle impact of the arm upon the diaphragm, wearpiece or reti-actor 21, danger to the diaphragm being greatest where the retractor is omitted.

Fig. 3 shows one form of retractor or setting means which may be used for vplacing the rotor-carried spring projections 15 under elastic tension prior to releasing the same to deliver successive blows'to the diaphragm. Where this is used, the diaphragm is actuated by impacts which are .partly due to the rotary movement of the driver and partly to the spring action of themembers 15 themselves. The construction and arrangement of the setting means may be widely varied and may be omitted if desired. In the illustrative form shown a stationary part 20 is provided with an ec-` centric contact surface 21 which intercepts the path of the peripheral members 15, so that these latter wipe over the contact surface to be gradually bent back until at the far end thereof they are permitted to snap -into contact with the wear-piece 16. The

extent of interception of the path of the spring teeth, as also the length of snapping ymovement executed thereby, may be varied by adjusting the eccentric member 20. This may be provided for in a great Variety -of ways. In the illustrative construction shown the member is provided with a curved slot 28 adapted to be adf justable by apair of bolts 29 screwed in the setting surface being at such suitable holes in the case. By loosening .the bolts, the member may be shifted and the bolts again tightened. A similar setting member` 20 may be used in connection with the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 4, or it may be omitted. his member is so formed and positioned as to foldA the-arms gradually back on their pivots against the tension of the springs 17, the action of centrifugal force, or both, the forward end of distance in advance of the diaphragm wear-piece 'as to insure the delivery of the desired blow when each arm is vCarried around to the point the cam surface. While the setting meinber has been shown comparatively .short in Fig. 3, it will be obvious any desired length, and may even be prolonged backward around the rotary member to a -point where the arms will come under its influence soon after traveling past the diaphragm wear-piece. By prolonging the setting surface vin this Way,

. radius its eccentricity ner, with minimum expenditureof power.

What I claim is:

1. In an alarm or signaling apparatus, a diaphragm, and mechanical means for actu; ating the saine including a rotary driver, an actuating projection4 mounted yieldably thereon, a spring for causing the projection to assume striking position, land a stationary elongated setting surface intersecting the path of said projection and constructed to gradually retract the latter and to suddenly release it to deliver a blow to force the diaphragm.

2. In an alarm or signaling apparatus, a diaphragm, mechanical means for actuating thesame including a rotary member having a yielding resiliently sustained actuating portion, and elongated curved adjustable setting means for gradually retracting said portion and suddenly releasing it to deliver a blow to drive the diaphragm.

the combination of a diaphragm, a rotary member and means whereby the same is rotated at high speed, a pivoted arm carried by said member, and stop means for causing said arm to assume a definite position after each diaphragm-forcing effort. 1

4. In an alarm or signaling'apparatus, the combination of a diaphragm, and a rotary member provided with a movable actuating arm pivoted thereon and a stop for limiting thev outward or forward swl'inging movementik of said arm.

5. In an alarm or signaling apparatus, the combination of a diaphragm, and rotary member provided with a pivoted actuating arm and stop means for limiting the outward movement of said arm so that its center of mass is considerably in rear of the from the axis of the rotary member to its pivot.

6. In an alarm or phragm.` oted actuating arm arranged to vibratethe diaphragm, a st op for limiting the outward or forward movement of the arin, and a spring for urging the arm against said stop. 7. In an alarm or signaling apparatus, the combination of a diaphragm, a rotary signaling device, a diaand a rotary member having a pvmember having a plurality of yielding dia-4.

phragm-actuating elements, and an elongated guide adjuvant to said diaphragm, and in the path4 of said elements for placing s aid elements under elastic stress and releasing vsame to actuate the diaphragm, said guide that 1t may be of being longitudinally adjustable to vary the releasing position of said elements in respect topsaid diaphragm.,

' 8. An alarm or signaling device includingv a diaphragm having a wearLpiece, a rotor mounted to rotate about an 'axis substan ltially parallel to said diaphragm, and havalong said periphery tion of rotation,

plurality of impact members pivotedperiphery and directed nected .with each mpact member and tendlng to swing it 1n one direction about its pivotal connection with said rotor.

- 9. Analarm or signaling device including a diaphragm having a wear-piece, a rotor mounted'to rotate about tially parallel to said diaphragm, and hav-- l ing a plurality of impact members pivoted l thereto about the periphery. and directed contrary to the direc' and a separate spring conalong said periphery contrary to the direction of rotation', and a separate spring connected with each imp'act member and tending to swing the' outer and rearward end thereof outwardly toward a radial position.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York,

y MILLER REESE HUTc'HIsoN.

and State of New York, this `2 v9th day of May, D. 1911. 

